Pulp molding machine



4 shees'fsheet l Nov. 28, 1933.

H. P. G. NORSTRAND PULP MOLDING MACHINE Fied April 7.

Nov. 28, 1933. H, P. G. NoRsTRAND PULP MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 7,. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 28, 1933. H. P. G. NoRs'rRAND 1,937,464

' PULP MOLDING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1932 v 4 sneeze-sheet 4 @I n' S5 Empa/@M5 MMA@ SP l 6 www.

Patented Nov. 28, 1933 PULP` MOLDING MACHINE Hans P. G. Norstrand, Plattsburg, N. Y., assignor y to Standard Pulp Products Co., Inc., New York, f N. Y., a corporation oi' Delaware Application April 7, 1932. Serial No. 603,691

14 Claims.

This invention relates to pulp molding machines, whereby articles, such as plates, are continuously produced from pulp; having reference more especially to pulp molding machines wherein a rotary series offspaced rows of forming dies are constructed and arranged to travel through a i suitable tank containing aqueous pulpV and to be subjected tol suction action during their travel -through the pulp and for an extended distance 1o thereafter, thus ensuring the application of the pulp to the progressing dies, which dies with the pulp thereon pass to the path of, and in co-operative relation to a series of compression dies which complete the formation of the desired articles on the opposing forming dies, whereupon said forming dies and the associated articles advance to a location where the articles are removed from each succeeding row of dies and deposited upon a suitable. conveyer by transfer deso vices.

. During the actual operation`of machines of the kind referred to the pulp contained in the .tank is maintained at proper consistency for practical use in the production of dishes and the like, but after the machine has beenidle for a period, as, for example, for repairs, replacements or adjustments, it is impossible when the machine is again started up to obtain immediately the proper exi-operative relation between the vacao uum in the submerged and exposed forming dies and the speed of the machine. Hence until the machine has been run a sumcient time to obtain such operative condition more or less lumpy stock adheres to thel forming dies and is carried thereby tothe paths of the compression dies and the transfer devices with possible damage' tothe coactingelements.

The principal object ofmy invention isto overcome the objection just mentioned,y by the provision of throw out mechanism or means Awhereby the compression dies and the transfer devices can be quickly rendered active or inac- V ltive with respect to the forming dies at the will of the operator, and this without interferring with themain operating mechanism of the ma- -chine. When the compression dies and the transfer devicesare rendered' inactive, the forming dies during the initial operation of the machine rotate cl'ear of said compression dies and transfer 150 devices, and the pulp deposited on the forming dies during their submergence is returned to the tank in' each succeeding rotation of the forming dies until the proper operative condition of the machine has been attained, whereupon the com- )5 pression dies and the transfer heads are rendered active with respect to the compression dies.

`With the foregoing object and other objects in view my invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which in a preferred form will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention then being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 isa side elevation of a pulp molding 65 `machine embodying my invention, the compression dies being shown in engagement with the opposing forming dies. I,

Fig. 2 is a section through one of the slotted transfer heads at the discharge station of the 70 machine, showing the head, the take-off conveyer and an adjacent forming die in their relative positions immediately upon the deposition y of a finished pulp article on the conveyer.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion 75 of the opposite side of themachine represented in Fig. l, showing the stroke-varying devices 'for the compression dies.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the strokevarying devices as adjusted to limit the down- 30 ward rstroke of the compression dies to a position above the path -of the forming dies.

Fig. 5 is a' transverse section through an actuating lever arm for the compression die plungers, showing an adjustable bifurcated link connec- 35 tion for operating the lever.

Fig. 6 is a partial front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3, the compression dies being shown at the limit of their upward stroke.

Fig. 'Z is a side elevation of the delivery mecha- 90 nism at the discharge end of the machine, showlng the connection between the oscillatingtransfer head and its actuating devices, the head being so positioned with respect to its axis of oscillation as to engage each succeeding forming diel and transfer the molded pulp article therefrom to the conveyer.-

Fig. 8 lis a similar view showing` the connection between the transfer head and its actuating devices so adjusted that the head when swung to the limit of its upward stroke is spaced from the path of the forming dies.-

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the hub ofthe oscillatory actuating sector, and the hol- 105 low shaft on which the transfer heads are mounted, showing one of said heads and the adjustable coupling between the sector and the shaft.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section-as on the line 10---10 of Fig. '7, the adjacent transfer head being shown. 110

cluding a base 16 on which is supported a capacious tank 17 to contain the pulp.

18` designates the main drive shaft having its bearings in 'suitably-disposed boxes on the frame end operatively connected with a suitable source of power. In the present instance this shaft 18 has fast thereon a gear 19 which is included v:as

Ace

in a train of gears 20 driven by a suitably located electric motor 21.

22 designates an intermittently-rotatable carrier provided with transverse rows of peripheral forming dies 23 of fine wire cloth or gauze, each conforming with the article or articles to be produced, which dies as the carrier rotates progress through the tank and are submerged in the contained pulp. These dies are supported by chambered structures having conduits 24 which are operatively connected in any usual or approved manner with suitable air exhaust and compression pumps so that the dies during `their passage into and through the tank, and `fr an extended distance of their subsequent'travel, are subjected to vacuum action which lensures the application of a layer ofvpulp to each succeeding row of dies, and which action at proper intervals is interrupted and the dies are subjected to internal air pressure, thereby releasing the formed articles and permitting their `removal fromy the dies.

'I he die carrier l22` is intermittently rotated about a fixed shaft 25 with uniform step-by-step movements, whereof each step is equal to the distance between the` centers of two adjacent rows of dies. The vparticular meansherein illustrated for this purpose comprises a Geneva stop motion whereof the driven member 26 is bolted to one of the heads of the carrier and the driving member 27 is afxed to a shaft 28 which is operatively connected by means of gears 29 with the gear 19 on the main shaft. The driven member 26 is temporarily locked at theend of each successive step by means of a bolt or roll 30 which is periodically moved into and from the Opposed interdentil space of such member. This bolt or roll projects from the horizontal arm of a crank lever 31 which is fulcrumed, as at 32, on the main frame, the other arm of the lever extending laterally adjacent a face cam 33 fast on the main shaft and being provided with a roll 34 which is seated in the cam groove. The contour of this groove is such as to oscillate the lever 31 in timed relation to the intermittent movement of the driven member 26 and the die carrier.

- Located above and perpendicular to the axis ofv the carrier are'a series of vertically reciprocative compression dies 35 which co-operate with each succeeding row of forming dies during the intermittent rotation of the;carrier in a manner to compress the pulp previously appliedto the forming dies.

In the present instance a set of. preliminary reciprocative compression dies 36 are arranged adjacent to and in advance of the main dies 35 so as to co-act with each succeeding row of forming -dies immediately before the passage of the latter to the path of the compression dies 435.

The compression dies 35 and 36 are simultaneously rec-iprocated during each dwell of the carrier, and hence while theV pulp on one :rowl of forming/dies is being acted upon by the preliminary compression dies the pulp on the immediately preceding rows of forming dies is being acted upon by the'main dies.

In the continued rotation of the carrier the fibrous articles thus formed by the co-operation of the compression and Iforming dies are transported by the latter dies to a discharge station located above and adjacent the tank. When the forming dies are positioned at this station the vacuum action is interrupted and the dies are subjected to internal air pressure eective to loosen the row of articles on the. dies. tally the row is removed from the forming dies and deposited on a horizontal belt conveyer 37 by means of a series of oscillating transfer heads 38 which are operated in timed relation to the intermittent travel of the. forming dies. This done, the forming dies, in the continued rotation of the carrier, re-enter the tank and therein receive a deposit of pulp as before, and so on.

According to my invention simple and eflicient control or throw out mechanism is provided whereby at the will of the operator the strokes of the compression dies 'and the transfer heads, respectively, can be regulated to preclude their engagement with the forming dies, thus enabling the free rotation of the carrier and its forming dies past the compression dies and the transfer heads. Hence, in the initial operation of the machine, following temporary` shut-downs, the carrier and its forming dies can be rotated for a suicient period through the pulp contents of the tank until the proper operative relation between the vacu i in the submerged and exposed forming dies and the speed of the machine'has been attained, thus obviating the delivery of lumpy stock by the forming dies to the active paths of the compression dies and transfer devices, as previously mentioned. `When the machine functions normallythe control mechanism for the compression dies is adjusted to increase the stroke of such dies in a manner to eilect their operative engagement with the succeeding rows of forming dies, whereupon when the carrier has advanced a su'icient distance toward the discharge station, the control mechanism ,for the transfer heads is adjusted to eiect their opervative'engagement with each succeeding row of forming dies carrying compressed pulp material.

In the present instance the resilient heads 39 which support the compression dies 35 and 36 are secured to plungers 4G, 41, respectively, which are slidably mounted in guides 42 on parallel cross-bars 43 supported by the side members of the main frame. On each of the plungers is a circumferentially-grooved collar 44 which is embraced by, `and pivotally connected by means of studs 45 with the bifurcated end of a rock-arm 46 extending from a cross-shaft 4'7 -having its bearings in the sides of the main frame.` There are two parallel crossshafts 47 and 470, each having three spaced arms 46 connected with the respective collars of the adjacent plunger 40 or 4l, which shafts have fast thereon, at one side of the machine, two meshing gears 48, 49, respectively. Y

Fast on the shaft 47 is a depending lever arm 50 provided with an arcuate slot 51 in which is loosely tted a stud 52 on the shorter arm ci? a bifurcated link 53 which embraces the arm 5o. This link is connected by means of a rod 54 with a crank 55 on the main shaft 18, thus constituting `a power driven member whereby during the opi'io eration of the shaft the crank lever and its shaft 47 together with the pinion 48 are oscillated, and also the pinion 49 arid its shaft 470. Consequently the arms 46 of the respective shafts 47 and 470 are correspondingly oscillated and the simultaneous longitudinal reciprocation of the two sets of plungers and 41 is effected; the throw of the plungers being determined by the movement of the stud 52 in the slotted lever arm 50.

As a means to regulate the extent of movement of the. stud 52 in the slot of the arm 50, a bolt 56`having a cylindrical head 57 and a correspondingly vshaped nut 58 which bear against the respective sides of-the arm, is slidably ttedin the slot beneath the stud 52. The nut is provided with a suitable handle 59 by the manipulation of which the nut can be properly turned to lock or release the bolt as desired.

When the bolt 56 is clamped on the lever arm the arms of the link member 53 are supported by and ride upon the head and nut of the bolt during the reciprocation of the ylink member through its connection with the crank 55, and hence if the bolt be adjusted longitudinally of the slot 51 the limit of downward movement of the stud therein will be accordingly varied, thus changing the stroke of the arm and consequently that of the plungers carrying the compression dies.

When the adjusting bolt 56 is in the raised position shown in Figs. l and 3, the stroke of the lever arm is sufficient to reciprocate the compression dies to effect the requisite compression of the pulp on the opposing forming dies, but

when thebolt is set at the bottom-of the slot, as

seen in Fig. 4, the stroke of the` lever arm 50 is reduced and the downward stroke of the compression dies is limited to preclude their engagement with the forming dies, as previously mentioned.

The longer arm 60 of the link member 53 is` provided with a suitable handle 61 by means of trance end of the pulp tank. Each of the heads includes a sectional dish-shaped member of proper internal formation to encircle and receive one of the molded articles on the forming dies. In the present instance this member comprises three spaced sections 65 which are alxed to a series of parallel rocker-arms 66 fast on the shaft 64 so as to be movable as a unit toward and from the adjacent path of the forming dies through an arc of about The parallel slots of the arms 66 and sections 65 of each of the dish-shaped members are in alignment with the adacent conveyer belts 37 and hence such arms and sections can be swung slightly below the belts to ensure the deposition of the contents of the dishshaped member on the belts, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The central arm of each transfer head is provided with an air duct 67 which communicates with the hollow shaft 64 and also with upper and lower orifices 68 in the middle section of the dishshaped member, whereby when this member is in its upright position in contact with the released pulp article on a forming 'dierand the 'engage the opposing forming dies on the interlshaft is exhausted of air, a suction is induced through the duct 67, and hence in the next succeeding downward stroke of the transfer head l the article is carried thereby to and deposited on the vconveyer belts, as previously mentioned, 80

`the vacuum, of course, being interrupted as the head approaches th belts.

The shaft 64 is oscillated in any suitable manner. In the present instance one end of the shaft has loose thereon a gear'sector 69 which meshes with a. gear rack 70 on the lower end of 'an inclined bar 71 which is supported by a suitably-disposed roller 72 on the framework. The upper end of the bar 71, which is bifurcated and embraces the main shaft 18, is provided with a rpll 73 operatively tted in the groove of-a face cam 74 fast on the main shaft, the contour of the groove being such as to effect the reciprocation of the bar 71 and,the oscillation of the sector 69 in timed relation to the intermittent rotation of the die carrier 22.

The sector is connected with the shaft 64 in such manner that the transfer heads can`be yso positioned in respect to the sector that when the oscillating heads are at the limit of their forward stroke they will engage the forming dies or be spaced from the path of the dies, as desired. To this end the sector has formed thereon yan upwardly extending arm 75 and the shaft has fast thereon a crank-arm 76 which is adjustably coupled to the arm 75. The crank arm has a radial slot 77 in which is loosely fitted a stud 78 eccentrically disposed on the circular head of a pin 79 which is rotatably fitted in a. suitably-disposed hole in the sector arm 75. The free end of this pin projects outwardly and has secured thereto a handle arm 80 which is -con-l nected by means of a retracting spring 81 with a stud 82 on the hub of the sector. (See Figs-7, 8, and 9.)

The co-operative relation ofv the parts just described is such that if the handle arm 80 be turned clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 7 the ec- I centric stud 78, through its slot engagement with the crank arm 76, will .partially turn the latter 120 arm and therewith the shaft 64, thus similarly moving the series of transfer heads relative to the sector, so that when the heads areswung to the limit of their upward movement they will mittently rotating carrier; the eccentric stud being held in this operative position by the action of the retracting spring 81. If, however, the handle arm 80 be subsequently turned contraclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 8, the eccentric stud 78 through its engagement ,with the slot 77 of the arm 76, will reversely move the latter arm and therewith the shaft 64, thus similarly moving the transfer heads relative to the sector, so that when the heads are Lswung to the limit of their upward movement they will be spaced from the path of the dies, thus precluding the engagement-of the transfer heads with the rotating dies. When the arm is swung to the position shown in` Fig. 8, the eccentric stud 78 140 I claim- A -1. AA pulp molding machine of the kind deq, die arranged in co-operative relation to the path scribed comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the 'tankduring the` progress of the carrier, mechanism for rotatingvsaid carrier, a compression die for periodical engagement with the forming dies exteriorly of the tank, mechanism for operating said compression diev in timed relation to the progressive travel of the forming dies, said latter mechanism including means whereby the ,compression die may be rendered inactive with respect to the forming dies'and retained in that condition for any desired period of `time during succeeding rotations of the forming dies through the contents of the pulp" tank, a transfer member movable into and from engaging relation with each succeeding forming die, and means for operating said transfer member including devices whereby said member may be rendered inactive with respect to the forming dies and retained in that condition during the period of inaction of the. compression die.

2. A pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies/on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, mechanism for rotating said carrier, a compression die for periodical engagement with the forming dies exteriorly of the tank, and mechanism for moving said compression die in timed relation to the progressive travel of the forming dies, said lattermechanism including throw out mechanism to vary lthe movement of the compression die whereby the com- 35/ pression die may be held out of .contact with re' spect to the'forming dies and retained in that condition for any desired period of time during succeeding rotations of the forming dies through the conte ts of the pulp tank.

3. A p p molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulptank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, mechanism for rotating said carrier, a reciprocative compression of the forming dies exteriorly of the tank, and mechanism for reciprocating said compression die in timed relation to the travel of the carrier, said latter mechanism including devices whereby the limit of the stroke of the compression die toward the forming dies can be varied to render the compression die active or inactive, as desired,

in relation to the forming dies while the carrier continues to rotate.

4. A pulp molding machine of the -kind described comprising a pulp tank. a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, mechanism for rotating said carrier, a reciprocative compression die arranged in co-oper'ative relation to the path of the forming dies exteriorly of the tank. a plunger for said compression die, a lever, operative connections between said lever and plunger, a power driven operating member having a sliding connection with said lever, and means for varying the movement of said sliding connection in respectl to the fulcrum of the lever, whereby the 1 1mm; of the stroke'of the plunger toward the tinuesv to rotate.

5. A pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable cai'- rier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progressA of the carrier, mechanism for rotating said carrier, a reciprocative compression die arranged in cooperative relation to the path of the forming dies exteriorly of the tank, a plunger for said compression die, a lever having a longitudinal slot therein, operative connections between said lever and plunger, a powerdrivenv member having a stud slidably fitted in said slot, and a` supporting element for said driven member adjustably mounted on the lever arm, whereby the movement of said stud in respect to the fulcrum of the lever can be varied to limit the stroke of the plunger toward the forming dies to render the compression die active or inactive, as desired, in relation to the forming dies while the carrier continues to rotate.

6. A pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of transverse rows of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents ofthe tank during the progress of the carrier, mechanism forrotating said carrier, a series of simultaneously reciprocable compression dies arranged in co-operative relation to the path of each row of forming dies exteriorly of the tank, plungers for the respective compression dies, a shaft', operative connections between said shaft and the respective plungers, and mechanism for oscillating said shaft to effect the reciprocation of the plungers in timed relation to the travel of the carrier, said latter mechanism including devices whereby the limit of the stroke of the plungers toward the forming dies can be varied to render the compression dies active or inactive, as desired, in relation to the forming dies while the carrier continues to rotate.

7.`A pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, a plurality of forming dies arranged in succeeding order in co-operative relation to the path of the compression diesfexteriorly of the tank, and mechanism for operating said compression dies in timed relation to the progressive travel of the forming dies, said latter mechanism including means whereby the respective compression dies may be simultaneously rendered inactive with respect to the forming dies and retained in that condition for any desired period of time during succeeding ro\ tations of the forming dies through the contents of the p ulp tank. y

8. A pulp molding machine of the kind de-` scribed comprlsing a. pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of transverse rows of forming dies `on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, mechanism for rotating said carrier, two adjacent series of simultaneously reciprocable compression dies, each series arranged in co-operative relation to the path of eacli row of dies exteriorlyv of the tank, plungers for the respective compression dies,.a shaft adjacent each series of plungers, operative connections between said shaft and the adjacent plungers, and mechanism for simultaneously oscillating said shafts to effect the recipward the forming dies can be simultaneously varied to render the two series of compression dies active or inactive, as desired, in relation to the forming dies.

9. In a pulp molding machine of the kind de-v scribed comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier and mechanism for rotating said carrier, a transfer member movable into and from engaging relation with each succeeding forming die, and means for operating said transfer member including devices whereby said member may be rendered inactive with respect to the forming dies and retained in that condition for any desired period of time during succeeding rotations of the forming dies through the contents of the pulp tank. i

10. In a pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, an oscillatory transfer head including a member movable toward and from each succeeding forming die, means for oscillating said head, and means whereby said head can be set in adjusted positions about its axis of oscillation to position the transfer member for movement into active or inactive relation to the forming dies during the oscillation of the transfer head.

l1. In a pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, an oscillatory transfer head including a member movable toward and from each succeeding forming die, a shaft for the transfer head, an oscillatory member, means for positively oscillating said member, and a connection between said oscillatory member and the shaft, whereby the shaft and the transfer head can be partially rotated independently of the oscillatory member and secured in position to oscillate in active or inactive relation to the forming dies, as desired.

12. In a pulp molding machine of the kind described comprising a pulp tank, a rotatable carrier, a succession of forming dies on said carrier submergible in the contents of the tank during the progress of the carrier, an oscillatory transfer head including a member movable toward and from each succeeding forming die, a shaft for the transfer head, a slotted crank member on said shaft, an oscillatory member co-axial with the shaft having an arm adjacent the said crank member, means for actuating the latter member, a partially rotatable member seated in said arm and having an eccentric seated in the slotted crank member, whereby said arm and member may be relatively positioned to effect the active or inactive oscillation of the -transfer head in relation to the forming dies, and a retaining spring connection between the partially rotatable member and the oscillatory member.

13. In a pulp molding machine of the kind described having travelling forming dies, `and spaced conveyer belts to which the molded articles are transferred from the successive dies, an oscillatory transfer head movable through an arc between the dies and below the belts, and including a sectional article-receiving member having parallel spaces in alignment with the belts, and means for oscillating said transfer head in timed relation to the travel of the forming dies.

14. A pulp molding machine having forming and compression dies, a pulp tank, means for moving the forming dies through the pulp tank to gather pulp, means for moving the compression die into molding relation with the forming dies, and control means for varying the movement of the compression die during the operation of the machine, to cause said compression die to move into molding relation with the forming dies or to be prevented from moving` into molding rela, tion with the forming dies, to permit the gathered pulp on the forming dies to be returned to the tank `in uncompressed condition.

lHANS P. G. NORSTRAND. 

